“Sarah is the best choice to lead this campaign of big issues and ideas,” Markey said in a statement. “Her proven track-record managing grassroots campaigns shows she has the leadership, know-how and passion to lead this campaign to victory.”

Markey also recently hired Colleen Coffey and Michael Pratt for his finance team. Both were instrumental in Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s massively successful fundraising operation in her victory over Republican Scott P. Brown in Massachusetts two months ago.

A special election will be officially called by Gov. Deval Patrick, D, after Sen. John Kerry’s expected confirmation as secretary of State.

He is currently the only announced candidate for the Senate special election. Massachusetts Democratic Reps. Michael E. Capuano and Stephen F. Lynch are eyeing the race, as is a local rabbi, Jonah Pesner. Brown has not yet said whether he’ll run.